Fall Catalog

Despite the fact that it was in the 80's today in Santa Barbara, last weekend was actually starting to feel Fall-like. (Mind you, it's technically Winter.) Santa Barbara does many things right (hiking, beaches, restaurants, schools) but it is horrible at seasons. Just after these shots were taken, I had some friends over to play in the front yard. Then we went inside to have blueberry, buckwheat pancakes. I love weekends!

I call it: "Wood on Cardboard"

My new school is big on art and I really enjoy it. I paint, draw, color, push sequins into glue-dough, and most recently, I create (((SCULPTURE COLLAGE THINGIES))) (the triple-parentheses are supposed to mimic the Voice of God. Keep up.). So, when I brought this fine wonder home the other day my mom and dad were very impressed.

I recognize that talent is innate but that it also takes a lifetime to hone and perfect. If I am to cut any of my ears off in the near future, I need to get started crafting my arts. So, in order to determine whether I have what it takes to be an (((ARTIST))), I decided to exploit a dear family friend, art critic, and allllmmmoosssst PhD, Kim B. to tell me how it is. Give it to me straight, sweet siren of sculpture!

Here is her critique of my work - Wood on Cardboard:

"In this sculptural collage from the artist's early career, a strong negative capability is already observable. The balance of the regular cardboard ground is off-set by a considered, if seemingly random, placement of the objects. Recalling Donald Judd, though clearly rejecting the regularity of his forms, this piece already exhibits a powerful sense of self, giving us a first glimpse of the concerns that he would take up in his mature work."

"Powerful sense of self," you got that right, sugar! I'm not real sure what the rest means just yet... give me a few years.

Grandpa Mike (aka "Bop Bop")

This guy is Grandpa Mike, or "Bop Bop" as I have taken to calling him. He was sadly left out of the 2011 slide show because he was either behind another camera or working in the Bay Area. But! He's back in SB now at an awesome new job... taking care of Grandma CeCe! That must be his new job because they keep talking about what a great new job it is. So that has to be it. I can't imagine anything more fun than hanging out with Grandma CeCe all day. Welcome home Bop Bop!

Miles Gives a Reading from Brown Bear

I am a flipping GENIUS! Check out my reading skills.


(Transcript: [unclear] Baa. Dog. Dog. Dog! Dog! Meooow.)

Happy New Year!

It has been a tremendous year filled with many blessings, good times, and a few challenges as well. I am looking forward to the new year so that I can work on becoming a bigger human and all that entails. I am excited to start my new school and to meet some new friends. My new years resolutions are as follows:
1) Learn to play Linus and Lucy on the piano.
2) Use a cup, a real cup.
3) Stop pooping in my pants, aim for potty.

Please enjoy this video with just a few of the special moments that 2011 held for us.
x - Miles

Merry! Merry!

Last weekend we celebrated Christmas about four times. The Timpany's came to town, then with friends, then with the Piper's. I had a fantastic time with lots of family and friends and of course, my new BFFs: Grover, Big Bird, Elmo, and Cookie Monster. On Christmas Day, we went for a walk along the Elwood Bluffs and saw the Monarch Butterflies that migrate to Goleta every year. I also really enjoyed being home with mom and dad who indulged me by playing lots of "tunnel" and pushing me around in my new Radio Flyer wagon. I hope that your holiday season was just as much fun as mine has been and I hope you enjoy a healthy and happy new year.

The Gauntlet was Thrown

Hi, this is Jessica, Miles's mom. I have hacked into Miles's blog to tell you a quick story about his new Christmas stocking. I was decorating the home a couple weeks back, pulling out all of our holiday decorations, when I noticed that we really didn't have stockings for myself or Miles. Danny has an amazing stocking that his late grandmother made for him. It's red felt with an embroidered Santa, beads, and lots of love. It's an exemplary stocking. So I hopped onto Etsy.com one night and tried to buy Miles and myself a couple new, cute stockings when Danny glared at me with a judging look and pronounced: "You can't buy a stocking!" And thus the gauntlet was thrown. I had to make them. And I had to make them well enough to hang on the mantle next to Danny's grandma-made-old-school-home-ec-class-taking-fabulous stocking.

So I took myself, and an unruly toddler, to Craft Essentials. We walked to the back of the store where all the fabric lives, along with a gaggle of old ladies who know their stuff, and I threw Danny's stocking down on the fabric-cutting table and said: "I need to make one of these." Everyone took a step back and sucked in their breath while sizing me up. I'm pretty sure I had poop and cracker crumbs on me somewhere, so the gaggle took pity and guided my shopping. I left with a bunch of supplies and a polite request to leave the toddler at home the next time I visited as he left a wake of destruction and strewn beads in his path.

So, here it is. Miles's stocking. Not bought, but made with love. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone!